consistency in verb form
TRANSCRIPT
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 1/12
Consistency in Verb Form
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 2/12
Tense Consistency• use of the same tense throughout a
piece of writing
• Most writings are organized in either
the simple present, the simple past,
or the simple future tense.
• Changes in verb tense may helpreaders or listeners understand the
temporal relationships among variousnarrated events.
• Unnecessary or inconsistent shifts intense can cause confusion.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 3/12
Some Rules to Remember• In sentences with more than one verb, it is
important to keep the time sequence
consistent.
• When showing a sequence of events, do not
shift tenses unnecessarily.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 4/12
Some Rules to Remember• Do not shift from one tense to another if the
time frame for each action or state is the
same.
• Do shift tense to indicate a change in time
frame from one action or state to another.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 5/12
A sentence with a compound verb should
generally have both verbs in the same
tense.PAST
• Incorrect: The receptionist sat at his
PRESENTdesk and ignores my question.
PAST
•Correct: The receptionist sat at his
PAST
desk and ignored my question.•
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 6/12
You should also not shift tenses
unnecessarily from one sentence to
another.PAST
• Incorrect: The actor collapsed on
PRESENTstage. Then he sits up.
PAST
• Correct: The actor collapsed onPAST
stage. Then he sat up.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 7/12
Sometimes, it will be necessary to
shift tenses. Only the meaning can tell
you for sure when you must shift
tenses.
PRESENT PRESENT
• Incorrect: If we have time, we visit
our relatives.
PRESENT FUTURE
• Correct: If we have time, we will visitour relatives.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 8/12
Quiz
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 9/12
For numbers 1-7, write the correct form of the
second verb.
1) I walk into the room and find no one there.
2) He got mad at the salesman and tells him to
leave.
3) Beethoven wrote some of his best music
after he becomes deaf.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 10/12
For numbers 1-7, write the correct form of the
second verb.
4) As soon as the operation was over, I visit him.
5) Romeo caught a glimpse of Juliet and will
become smitten right away.
6) It has been several years since I last see my
grandfather.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 11/12
For numbers 1-7, write the correct form of the
second verb.
7) If Kyru will do his best, he won the first prize.
Fill in the blanks.
Most writings are organized in either the8)_______ _______, the 9)_______ _______, or
the 10)_______ _______ tense.
7/27/2019 Consistency in Verb Form
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/consistency-in-verb-form 12/12
• Prentice Hall GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION byForlini, G. et. al.
• Linking the World through English IV Student’s
Textbook by Ignacio-Paez, D. et. al.• www.daltonstate.edu/esl/Verb_Form_Errors.ppt
Sources: